EPA Sets Stricter Limits for Hydrofluorocarbons Used in Refrigerators and Air Conditioners

WASHINGTON (AP) The Environmental Protection Agency is imposing stricter limits on hydrofluorocarbons, very potent greenhouse gases used in refrigerators and air conditioners that contribute to global warming.

A rule announced on Tuesday will mandate an overall 40 percent reduction in HFCs starting next year, part of a global phase-out designed to slow climate change. The law is in line with a 2020 law that calls for an 85% reduction in the production and use of climate-damaging chemicals by 2036.

Officials said refrigeration and air-conditioning systems sold in the United States will emit far fewer HFCs because of the rule, the second step in a 15-year phased-down of chemicals that once dominated refrigeration and cooling equipment .

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Here’s a look at HFCs and what the US and other countries are doing to limit their use.

WHAT ARE HFCS?

Hydrofluorocarbons are very powerful greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners. HFCs produce greenhouse gases thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide. They often leak through pipes or appliances that use compressed refrigerants and are considered a major cause of global warming.

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO LIMIT HFCs?

More than 130 countries, including the United States, have signed up a 2016 global agreement a significantly reduce the use and production of HFCs by 2036.

The Senate ratified the so-called Kigali amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol on ozone pollution last year in a rare bipartisan vote. The measure requires participating nations to phase out HFC production and use by 85 percent over the next 13 years, as part of a global phase-out aimed at slowing climate change.

Scientists said the deal, reached in Kigali, Rwanda, could help the world avoid half a degree Celsius of global warming.

Ratification of the amendment, signed by President Joe Biden last year, follows bipartisan action Congress took in 2020 to pass the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, which phased out domestic production of HFCs. The AIM Act accelerated the industry’s shift from HFCs to alternative refrigerants that use less harmful chemicals and are widely available across the country. The law also avoids a previous patchwork of state laws and regulations governing HFCs.

WHAT DOES THE LATEST STANDARD DO?

The new rule announced on Tuesday is based on a 10% reduction required by the end of this year. It requires an overall reduction of 40% from 2024 to 2028.

Companies that produce, import, export, destroy, use, process or recycle HFCs are subject to the standard.

EPA officials said the rule would help ensure the United States is at the forefront as countries around the world implement the Kigali amendment. Phase-down of HFCs, supported by internal innovation for the development of alternative chemicals and equipment, is paving the way for the United States to address climate change and strengthen global competitiveness, said Joe Goffman, principal deputy director of the Office for air and radiation by the EPA.

White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi said the rule would help develop next-generation technologies for refrigeration, ensuring American workers reap the benefits of a growing global market for HFC alternatives.

WHAT IS THE INDUSTRY SAYING?

The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, which represents manufacturers of commercial air conditioning, heating and refrigeration, called the rule a crucial step in implementing the AIM Act.

Our industry appreciates the work of the EPA and the timely issuance of this rule as we prepare for the next phase-out of the HFC reduction this coming January, said Stephen Yurek, president and CEO of AHRI.

The American Chemistry Council, which represents manufacturers and users of chemicals, has welcomed the EPA rule.

The ACC has long advocated for the phase-down of HFCs, which can reduce a sizable source of greenhouse gas emissions, create manufacturing jobs, and increase our nation’s share in the global market for air conditioning and refrigeration products.” The group said in a statement.US companies have developed effective alternatives to HFCs, the group added.

WHAT IF THE INDUSTRY DOESN’T COMPLY?

The EPA rule provides for a variety of administrative penalties, including license revocation and quota withdrawals for companies that fail to comply. Penalties and fines may also be imposed. The EPA said it finalized the administrative consequences by withdrawing more than 6.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents for 2022 and 2023 for companies that reported incorrect data or imported HFCs without required quotas.

Since January 2022, an interagency task force on the illegal HFC trade, led by EPA and the Department of Homeland Security, has prevented illegal shipments of HFCs equivalent to more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide at the border, officials said. That’s the equivalent of the carbon emissions of over 200,000 homes for one year.